Across the Catholic Church in England and Wales, the Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter is designated as a Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse.

On this day, we remember in our prayers all who have suffered any kind of abuse. The Bishop will lead a service of ‘None’, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, at Leeds Cathedral.  The service is also planned to be live-streamed in a way that will be respectful of people’s privacy, so it will be available to watch either live, or subsequently, via our Cathedral YouTube channel: www.LeedsCathedralLive.org.uk   Please find the Order of Service below:

Office of None and Blessing of the Icon of the Archangel St Raphael

As part of this service, at which several members of the Comboni Survivors Group will be in attendance, Bishop Marcus will solemnly dedicate and bless an Icon he has commissioned from the artist Martin Earle, of St Raphael the Archangel as Protector and Healer of all who have experienced abuse.

The Icon will be installed in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel as a memorial to victims and survivors of abuse. Although such memorials have in some places in the world been erected outside in the grounds of churches, as far as we know, this will be the first memorial of its kind erected within a Catholic Cathedral and we hope it will be a place where victims and survivors of abuse themselves will find healing and peace.

The Bishop’s reason for commissioning the image of St Raphael was because of his biblical association with the divine gift of healing and restoration, making him another of our ‘Safeguarding Saints’ – and a worthy Icon to be installed into Leeds Cathedral to encourage prayer for the healing of, and justice for, all those who have suffered from physical or sexual abuse as children or vulnerable adults.

Safeguarding is Everybody’s Business!

If any any child or adult is at risk of immediate harm, call 999.
The Diocese of Leeds Safeguarding Team is available Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm. Direct any concerns via email to: Safeguarding@dioceseofleeds.org.uk or speak to our Safeguarding Team on 0113 2618046. Anyone who brings concerns or allegations to the notice of the Church will be responded to sensitively, respectfully and seriously. All concerns and allegations will be addressed using the Church’s national procedures and in a timely manner. The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) can also be contacted on 0207 901 1920 or via email at admin@catholicsafeguarding.org.uk

A copy of our current Safeguarding Communications Plan is also available on the Safeguarding website.